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Poli Sci 2 v. IAS 45

Political Science 2: Introduction to Comparative Politics (Price)
v.
International and Area Studies 45:Survey of World History (Pearson)

I can't decide which one to take. What do you guys know about the difficulty levels of these two courses? What about the average workload every week? I'm trying not to have a too intense first semester.

Replies to: Poli Sci 2 v. IAS 45

I think IAS45 is the harder course. I would take PS2 if I were you. Price is supposed to be a fairly good professor for PS2, while Pearson isn't. you want to take IAS45 with Karras, who hopefully will be teaching it next spring or fall. Both require a fair amount of reading.

Well, I took IAS45 w/ Karras and so I don't really know what Pearson's like. But there will probably be one term paper, and two midterms plus final. I thought the tests (again, w/ Karras) were very reasonable

Sorry, I don't do grade disclosure But I did fine.
I've taken PS2 before, but not with Price. With De Neufville. Worst. Professor. EVER. I know people who have taken PS2 w/ Price, and they like the experience.

I think that PS2 is more like a classic freshman "intro" class. Whereas IAS45 has a little more depth? I don't really know how to explain it

I had Pearson for IAS 45 last semester. As far as workload, there are about 60 pages of reading a week and 2 5-page essays for the semester. Midterms are quote identification from readings and essays about the readings and lectures.

I personally found the professor to be a great lecturer, because he outlines his entire lecture on the board and makes notetaking very easy. He is fairly hyper and goes through alot of material, which is fine for a history buff like me. The readings are semi-relevent to the lectures, and some are more important than others. As long as you semi-read them, you be able to pull off a B (or an A- like me).

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